Every June since 1981, the Canepa family has lived and breathed the Mill Valley Wine and Gourmet Food tasting. Sure, it started out as what Jim Canepa, former owner of Mill Valley Market, called a “little wine and cheese gathering,” but now, thirty years later, the event belongs to the current Mill Valley Market owners Doug and Dave Canepa. This year, they are aiming to kick the festivities up a notch with an array of new additions. For the first time ever, for example, Mill Valley Beerworks will be pouring their Mill Valley favorites, from Crispen Cider to Saint, and an array of local and international brews will be featured. Despite the beer frenzy, foodies haven’t been forgotten; selections from Mill Valley eateries, from Balboa Cafe to Tony Tutto Pizza to El Paseo House of Chops, will still be present, alongside a couple of bakeries and an array of tapenades. And wine aficionados, they’ve remembered you, too- as if favorites such as Adastra Wine’s Pinot Noir and Spanish and Portuguese wines from Vinos Unicos weren’t enough, new selections from Dragonette Cellar’s Sauvignon Blanc to the unique flavors of Crosby Roamann will be introduced.

Bonus! It’s also the Mill Valley Market’s 82nd anniversary. Doug Canepa’s thoughts on why they’ve been in business for so long? “The reason we’ve stayed in business for over 80 years is, I believe, because our business focus has always been the community. What’s good for the community is good for us. We think of Mill Valley as our business partner and we are loyal to its residents. This, along with our ability to adapt to new eating habits and to changes in what consumers want – for example fresh & organic, local produce (which we now control from our own farm,) as well as stock prepared meals for working families, has served us well.” As for owning and running a business with the family? “While all families have their ups and downs, we learned from our father and uncle to ultimately trust each other,” Canepa said. “We have confidence in our family members and know they will do the job well; we don’t question each other. This trust in family also applies to our staff who have been with us for many years and have become extended family.”